In the context of globalization, finance often seems to be all number but it is fundamentally social rather than mathematical. It is a product of society. Modern finance consists of promises that are accepted. The Latin root of “Credit” illustrates this aspect –credere is to believe or entrust. In the same way that language facilitates expression and understanding finance gives promises power in commerce, over the allocation of goods and services to consumers and over the uses of land, labour and capital in production. This paper upholds the view that finance cannot be separated from risk. The opposite of risk is confidence. Finance harmonizes these opposites when risk is sufficiently offset by confidence, transactions occur and value is created. Finance therefore cannot exist without confidence. The relationship between value risk and confidence is triangular.In the context of globalization, finance often seems to be all number but it is fundamentally social
rather than mathematical. It is a product of society. Modern finance consists of promises that are accepted. The
Latin root of “Credit” illustrates this aspect - credere is to believe or entrust. In the same way that language
facilitates expression and understanding finance gives promises power in commerce, over the allocation of
goods and services to consumers and over the uses of land, labour and capital in production. This study upholds
the view that finance cannot be separated from risk. The opposite of risk is confidence. Finance harmonizes
these opposites when risk is sufficiently offset by confidence, transactions occur and value is created. Finance
therefore cannot exist without confidence. The relationship between value risk and confidence is triangular.